MS Dhoni promises CSK to come back stronger in IPL next season

Dubai: Chennai Super Kings endured a tough outing in the last edition of the Indian Premier League, finishing at the bottom of the table — a rare low for the five-time champions. Midway through the season, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was forced to retake the captaincy following an injury to stand-in skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Speaking at a private event in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Dhoni acknowledged the team's struggles but expressed optimism for the upcoming season.

“I won’t say we slacked off [in IPL 2025],” he said. “But there were definitely a few gaps that needed fixing. With a mini-auction scheduled for December, we’re aiming to address those issues.”

Dhoni emphasised the importance of Gaikwad’s return in bolstering CSK's top order. “We had concerns around our batting lineup,” he said at another event in Chennai. “But things are shaping up well now. Rutu will be back from injury, which will make a big difference. So we’re feeling more settled.”

Speculation continues around a potential move to bring in Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson to strengthen CSK’s batting, though no official confirmation has been made.

Reflecting on the team’s recent struggles, Dhoni admitted the last couple of seasons hadn’t met expectations. “We haven’t been at our best. But what matters is learning from it. We had to ask ourselves: what went wrong?” he explained. “And I believe we’ve mostly been able to identify the issues.”

Dhoni concluded on a hopeful note. “In sports, you go through highs and lows. At CSK, we've generally been on the higher side. We believe in processes, but we also want results. Last season didn’t go our way, but we’re working hard to fix things. Hopefully, we’ll be back to our best next year.”